St. Augustine is the oldest city in America and was
founded by the Spanish in 1565. The city of St. Augustine was founded by the
Spanish admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés on September 8, 1565. Menéndez first
sighted land on August 28, the feast day of Augustine of Hippo, and consequently
named the settlement San Agustín.

In 1586 St. Augustine was attacked
and burned by Sir Francis Drake. In 1668 it was plundered by pirates and most of
the inhabitants were killed. In 1702 and 1740 it was unsuccessfully attacked by
British forces from their new colonies in the Carolinas and Georgia.

In 1763, the Treaty of Paris ended
the French and Indian War and gave Florida and St. Augustine to the British, an
acquisition the British had been unable to take by force and keep due to the
strong fort there. St. Augustine came under British rule and served as a
Loyalist colony during the American Revolutionary War.

The Treaty of Paris in 1783 gave
the American colonies north of Florida their independence, and ceded Florida to
Spain in recognition of Spanish efforts on behalf of the American colonies
during the war. Florida was under Spanish control again from 1784 to 1821.

The expanding United States,
however, regarded Florida as vital to its interests. In 1821, the Adams-Onís
Treaty peaceably turned the Spanish colonies in Florida and, with them, St.
Augustine, over to the United States. Florida was a United States territory
until 1845 when it became a U.S. state.

Spanish Colonial era buildings,
still existing in the city, include the fortress Castillo de San Marcos. The
fortress successfully repelled the British attacks of the 18th century, served
as a prison for the Native American leader Osceola in 1837, and was occupied by
Union troops during the American Civil War. It was removed from the Army's
active duty rolls in 1900 after 205 years of service under five different flags.
It is now the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument.

In the late 19th century, the
railroad came to town, and led by northeastern industrialist Henry Flagler, St.
Augustine became a winter resort for the very wealthy. A number of mansions and
palatial grand hotels of this era still exist, some converted to other use, such
as housing parts of Flagler College and museums.

The city is a popular tourist
attraction, for the rich Spanish Colonial Revival Style architectural heritage
as well as elite 19th century architecture. The city is also one terminus of the
Old Spanish Trail, which in the 1920's linked St. Augustine, Florida, to San
Diego, California with 3000 miles of roadways.

People come from all the over the
world to vacation at Saint Augustine’s beachfront, as well as visit the renowned
St. Augustine Lighthouse, famous St. George Street (St. Augustine’s historic
pedestrian shopping mall), where you will find the oldest home and oldest school
house in America. There is sea kayaking, deep sea fishing, and diving for
outdoors types, as well as kite surfing at Anastasia Island State Park.

Golfers will find links designed by
Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer at the nearby World Golf Village resort, and
additional locally famous courses at Palencia and Marsh Creek Country Clubs
pleasant and challenging diversions.

Lastly, any discussion of the St.
Augustine experience would be incomplete without mentioning its myriad dining
possibilities. Many fine restaurants grace the city, most notably the luxurious
food offerings at 95 Cordova, the elegant bistro dining at Cortessi’s, and
Cap’s, located on the water and known for its fresh-from-the-ocean seafood.

Yearly events, which draw people from all over the
world, include the Players Championship TPC at Sawgrass in May, the Lighthouse
Festival, which takes place in March every year, the Colonial Folk Arts and
Crafts Festival in October, and in November and December the Old City is
decorated for the Nights of Lights Festival.

There are many wonderful homes in this area, but you need a local market expert
to help you. Watson Realty Corp is a locally owned company with nearly 50 years
experience selling homes in the area.